Jeroen Robbers

De Terp - Netherlands

Hi, I’m Jeroen Robbers and I grow organic pumpkins in the Betuwe, an old fruit growing region of the Netherlands. I started farming in 1984 and I converted to organic in 1998. My company, De Terp, is now the largest organic pumpkin producer in Europe. I grow orange as well as green pumpkins.

Apart from pumpkins, vegetables and feed crops, we also have cows, the Blondes d’Aquitaine. During the winter these animals stay in a deep litter house and during the summer they graze on a country estate. We grow our own feed for the animals. This way we can achieve a nearly closed circle of nutrients, which is quite unique in the Netherlands. Thanks to 500 solar panels our pumpkin processing facilities are energy neutral. As a company we are also climate-neutral.

Apart from the agriculture we also have a day care center for people with special needs, a farm shop and a forest with a public walking trail. Although we do many different things, we're also a very modern company: we use the latest techniques for harvesting and processing our pumpkins. I hope you will enjoy them!

Interview with Jeroen Robbers

N&M: How did you start farming?
“I came from the city originally and had no knowledge of farming. I was very interested in animals and plants though. With a lot of ideals and passion I started out as a biodynamic farmer. In 1984 I began to grow assorted vegetables on less than three acres. But apart from an idealist I also turned out to be quite practical. In the course of the years I was able to expand my company to what it is today.”

N&M: Why did you specialize in pumpkins?
“When I began, the profits for biodynamic products were very low, apart from the pumpkins. So I started growing more pumpkins. Then, over the years, pumpkins increased in popularity a lot. In the past it was mostly considered an ornamental product. As a food they were only sold in health food stores. But nowadays it has become a very popular product with a year round demand.”

N&M: How about the cows?
In 1991 I got the chance to start working on a rural estate. It’s a beautiful spot to herd cows and it enables me to produce a beautiful local product. The Blondes d’Aquitaine are great animals and they provide me with a closed nutrient cycle, which has always been my ideal. The proceeds are very low however. That’s why I’m now changing to another type of cattle that produces milk as well as meat.”

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soil

The soil in this area is a mixture of sand and river clay, which is ideal for pumpkin cultivation. De Terp has closed nutrient cycles, which is remarkable these days. The cycle basically works like this: a year of pumpkins is followed by a year of grain that serves as fodder for the cows. The cow's manure is partly composted and feeds the soil, where next year the pumpkins are cultivated. No external inputs are required, which makes this the most sustainable way of performing agriculture. The system increases the vitality of the soil year by year and gives the products an authentic regional character.

biodiversity

De Terp has organic cattle that is kept in a very animal friendly way. The cattle is put to pasture on a beautiful country estate most of the year. During the winter the animals reside in a deep litter house, a stable with a solid floor and a lot of straw, where the animals feel at home and have enough moving space. The farm is also participating in a Dutch calf adoption plan.

Pumpkins are very resistant to plagues and diseases, which makes their cultivation very sustainable. Jeroen’s farm hosts a lot of biodiversity. Apart from all different crops and animals Jeroen also has some fruit trees and a forest. And of course he applies crop rotation in a clever way.

society

Freedom stands for personal development and learning. At De Terp young farmers develop their skills so that they can take over in the future, in this way making sustainable farming sustainable. Furthermore the farm employs young people with special needs, focusing on what their possibilities instead of their impediments.

Justice is about equality in relationships. Human rights in the Netherlands are well protected by law. At De Terp people treat each other resectfully; employees, seasonal workers and “assistant farmers” with special needs all have their own special function in the company. Through the farm store, contacts with the local community are maintained. Solidarity means helping others to achieve their basic needs. This means fair wages, a safe working place, insurance etc. At the De Terp, they work according to national and EU regulations. Furthermore, because of the diverse nature of the farm, it is a great place to work.

climate

As an organic grower Jeroen Robbers does not use fertilizer or chemical substances, saving energy on these inputs. He also has two electric cars, to save fossil fuel. On the roof of his pumpkin shed, he has installed more than 500 solar panels that provide electricity for all the storage and processing going on: this makes his whole operation energy neutral.

Jeroen’s operations are completely climate neutral. He does not use fertilizer, thereby reducing the production of nitrous oxide, one of the worst greenhouse gasses. Green manuring and good composting reduce his climate footprint furthermore. Jeroen also planted a 15 acre forest, sequestering a large amount of carbon. And last but not least, he installed 500 solar panels to generate electricity for his processing and storage facilities!

water

The Netherlands have no water shortage. Nevertheless, Jeroen is conscious about his water use. The water used for washing the pumpkins is led to a basin and returns to the natural water cycle; there’s no pollution.

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